Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
The day is nearly upon us - Star will race tomorrow night for the first time since 2013 when she was retired for the second time in her career due to being deemed 'not good enough'.
She requalified on Monday night at Corbiewood in a pedestrian 2.12, which didn't fill me with much confidence due to not being there to see how she went. J told me afterwards that the track was covered in standing water, therefore not ideal conditions for qualifying/racing, and that the Jockey had finished with plenty in hand. Star had come off the track barely looking to have done any work.
My friend recorded it for me to watch however due to technical difficulties (her age might be against her - I can say that as she's not on here, she would slap me for saying that otherwise!) she's not been able to send me the video yet, although she hopes to have it to me by the end of the day. Does anyone know how to upload videos or link to videos on here, in case anyone would like to see it maybe?
Anyway, J was left with free rein to decide whether or not to put her on the card for the feature two day meeting this weekend - after she requalified he decided that she WOULD be entered for a C Class drivers race, for drivers who have won less than 7 races lifetime. This means that our stable jockey, aka The Jockey, would be ineligible as he's won more races than I could tell you. My pal George who had been training her for me temporarily was super keen to drive her, but as a public trainer with a horse he currently trains entered for the same race (to be driven by its owner) he is unable to. He is unable to drive a horse trained by somebody else if a horse that he trains is in the same race (which is why the top drivers have their partners with the trainers licences - Mick Lord drives, Sheelagh Lord trains; Rocker Laidler drives, Alexis Laidler trains; Andrew Cairns drives, Joanne Cairns trains; Alan Haythornthwaite drives, Teresa Haythornthwaite trains. That way, they can pick and choose what they drive in a race without being tied to a horse trained in their own stable).
So J and me had to brainstorm to think of somebody else to drive Star for us - it didn't take long for us to choose a young lad who is one of George's best friends, and is also the son of one of the partners of the biggest Standardbred stud in Scotland: Junior Junior. He's 'Jr Jr' as his grandfather, who holds the owner's licence, is Senior, his father, who holds the trainer's licence, is Junior, and with them all having the same name well...! So we have Junior Junior on board, and he is both delighted and excited to be in the race. Due to the handicap marks of the horses entered (Star is a Grade 1, which is the lowest grade eligible, with £140 against her), and because the race is being run as a Preferred Handicap (lowest grade draws 1, highest grade draws the outside on second line), Star is guaranteed to be drawn 2 on the gate. In her entire racing career her best draw was 3 on the gate, the day she won her maiden, however there were only 3 balloting for a position on the gate so she STILL had the worst draw! She is still yet to get the rail behind the start car...maybe one day it'll happen.
Here's a link to the start sheet - note the numerous 'AR's, no time for previous 5 runs and slow PB time compared to other horses. Looks like a real prospect...NOT!
http://www.bhrc.org.uk/racing/download/race_card/CW 24-7-15 [Race Sheets](2).pdf
We're also racing Stevie (in a novice race) and Wild Bill (in a maiden race) tomorrow night, so the stables are being vacated and the team is taking everything we have got. If we have one winner I'll be delighted; if we have two I'll be ecstatic; and if we have three then I'll cry. If Star wins, and she does have a chance (despite on paper being the worst horse in the race) then I don't know what I'll do. Other than collect that tenner from the bet I had with a friend that I couldn't win a race with a Make A Deal mare...and tell my brother that I clearly wasn't wasting my time!
I will of course let you know how we get on. I've not looked forward to a race meeting so much for a long time
Over and out,
Sarah, Star, Stevie & Wild Bill
She requalified on Monday night at Corbiewood in a pedestrian 2.12, which didn't fill me with much confidence due to not being there to see how she went. J told me afterwards that the track was covered in standing water, therefore not ideal conditions for qualifying/racing, and that the Jockey had finished with plenty in hand. Star had come off the track barely looking to have done any work.
My friend recorded it for me to watch however due to technical difficulties (her age might be against her - I can say that as she's not on here, she would slap me for saying that otherwise!) she's not been able to send me the video yet, although she hopes to have it to me by the end of the day. Does anyone know how to upload videos or link to videos on here, in case anyone would like to see it maybe?
Anyway, J was left with free rein to decide whether or not to put her on the card for the feature two day meeting this weekend - after she requalified he decided that she WOULD be entered for a C Class drivers race, for drivers who have won less than 7 races lifetime. This means that our stable jockey, aka The Jockey, would be ineligible as he's won more races than I could tell you. My pal George who had been training her for me temporarily was super keen to drive her, but as a public trainer with a horse he currently trains entered for the same race (to be driven by its owner) he is unable to. He is unable to drive a horse trained by somebody else if a horse that he trains is in the same race (which is why the top drivers have their partners with the trainers licences - Mick Lord drives, Sheelagh Lord trains; Rocker Laidler drives, Alexis Laidler trains; Andrew Cairns drives, Joanne Cairns trains; Alan Haythornthwaite drives, Teresa Haythornthwaite trains. That way, they can pick and choose what they drive in a race without being tied to a horse trained in their own stable).
So J and me had to brainstorm to think of somebody else to drive Star for us - it didn't take long for us to choose a young lad who is one of George's best friends, and is also the son of one of the partners of the biggest Standardbred stud in Scotland: Junior Junior. He's 'Jr Jr' as his grandfather, who holds the owner's licence, is Senior, his father, who holds the trainer's licence, is Junior, and with them all having the same name well...! So we have Junior Junior on board, and he is both delighted and excited to be in the race. Due to the handicap marks of the horses entered (Star is a Grade 1, which is the lowest grade eligible, with £140 against her), and because the race is being run as a Preferred Handicap (lowest grade draws 1, highest grade draws the outside on second line), Star is guaranteed to be drawn 2 on the gate. In her entire racing career her best draw was 3 on the gate, the day she won her maiden, however there were only 3 balloting for a position on the gate so she STILL had the worst draw! She is still yet to get the rail behind the start car...maybe one day it'll happen.
Here's a link to the start sheet - note the numerous 'AR's, no time for previous 5 runs and slow PB time compared to other horses. Looks like a real prospect...NOT!
http://www.bhrc.org.uk/racing/download/race_card/CW 24-7-15 [Race Sheets](2).pdf
We're also racing Stevie (in a novice race) and Wild Bill (in a maiden race) tomorrow night, so the stables are being vacated and the team is taking everything we have got. If we have one winner I'll be delighted; if we have two I'll be ecstatic; and if we have three then I'll cry. If Star wins, and she does have a chance (despite on paper being the worst horse in the race) then I don't know what I'll do. Other than collect that tenner from the bet I had with a friend that I couldn't win a race with a Make A Deal mare...and tell my brother that I clearly wasn't wasting my time!
I will of course let you know how we get on. I've not looked forward to a race meeting so much for a long time
Over and out,
Sarah, Star, Stevie & Wild Bill
I look forward to the report!
